washi tape organizer

All my art materials are stored in one big plastic box and I put them out every time I make the cards and any other crafts that I post in this blog. And every single time, I have to clean them up and put them back in the box. The hardest to organize are my washi tapes. According to www.hobbycraft.co.uk, washi tapes are decorative masking tapes originating from Japan that can be used to add pattern and color to almost any project.

What I do before is use a scotch tape to combine the sets together so I won't forget which ones go with which ones and put them all in a separate box. But whenever I put them in that same box, I am not satisfied with it at all as it looks so messy. So I came up with an idea of organizing them by using a paper tube. Here's a before and after picture of my washi tapes.

Washi Tape Organizer

All you need to create this washi tape organizer are the following: a box, A4 printing paper or any ordinary paper you have, patterned paper for decoration, scotch tapes, double-sided tape, scissors, ruler and pencil. When you've got all these, you are now ready to make your washi tape organizer and follow the steps below:

We will be needing two different size of paper tube in each set of washi tape organizer. Note that the size of the paper tubes that we'll be creating should be based on the box that you'll be using for your washi tapes.

1) To create the first paper tube, roll two sheets of A4 paper together to a desired diameter of the tube. The diameter should be based on the diameter of the hole on your washi tapes. Again, ensure that the length of this paper tube should be enough for the size of your box. Use the scotch tape to secure the paper tube and ensure to cover both ends with scotch tapes. This is to ensure that the paper ends won't spread out once you cut them. Measure 0.5" at one side of the tube and cut them as shown in the Step 1 picture below. 

Step 1: Washi Tape Organizer

2) To create the second paper tube, cut two A4 paper (portrait) in half, then roll them together. This shorter paper tube will be placed inside the longer paper tube. Therefore, the diameter of this shorter paper tube should be based on the longer paper tube so it fits. Secure them again with scotch tape and ensure to secure both ends as well. Measure 0.5" at one side of the tube and cut them as shown in the Step 2 picture below. 

Step 2: Washi Tape Organizer

3) Wrap the longer paper tube with the patterned paper. Use the double-sided tape for this.

Step 3: Washi Tape Organizer

4) Put the shorter paper tube inside the longer one. Now your paper tubes are done. All you need to do is repeat this process depending on how many washi tapes you have. In my case, I need 8 of them. 

Step 4: Washi Tape Organizer

Once you've got all your paper tubes ready, stack your washi tapes and store them nicely in your handmade organizer.

Hope you enjoyed this project and helped you out in tidying your art materials.

Thanks for reading!